As freeing as riding a motorcycle can be, it also comes with inherent risks in New York. Motorcyclists tend to be overrepresented among traffic fatalities, with thousands of riders killed every year. Even when riders survive an accident, they may suffer serious injuries due to the lack of protection offered by motorcycles.
One way to reduce your chances of experiencing an accident is to follow certain motorcycle safety tips in Long Island, NY. Take a closer look at what you can do to protect yourself on the road and how a Long Island motorcycle accident lawyer can help if you’re involved in a crash.
For guidance, contact the team at Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC at (212) 433-3100 for a free consultation. We have over five decades of combined experience, and we’re dedicated to fighting for injured New Yorkers. Call 212-CARRION today for legal advice.
How Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident on Long Island, NY
Our attorneys have over 50 years of combined legal experience handling motorcycle injury cases in Long Island, New York. We have secured tens of millions of dollars in life-changing compensation for our clients.
Essential services Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC can provide you as an injured rider include:
- Listening to your side of the story on how you sustained your injuries
- Recommending your best options and gathering documents to support your case
- Submitting an insurance claim and negotiating for a fair settlement
- Filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party if their insurer refuses to settle
Motorcycle accidents can result in devastating injuries and high financial costs. Contact us for a free case evaluation with a Long Island personal injury lawyer to learn about the compensation you may be entitled to seek for your motorcycle crash injuries.
Common Causes of Long Island Motorcycle Accidents
By nature, motorcycles are more vulnerable to crashes than other vehicles. If the rider loses control of their motorcycle, they can cause a single-vehicle crash by running off the road, hitting a fixed object, or laying their motorcycle down.
In fact, the risk of single-vehicle accidents is one reason motorcyclists are five times more likely to suffer an injury and 27 times more likely to die in traffic crashes than automobile occupants. However, motorcyclists are also frequently injured in collisions with other vehicles.
With so little protection available, riders can suffer broken bones, lacerations, and brain injuries. These multi-vehicle crashes typically result from just a few common causes.
Drivers often overlook motorcycles. This is partially due to the small size of motorcycles, but drivers can also miss motorcycles in plain sight because of a phenomenon called inattentional blindness.
Inattentional blindness is a cognitive bias. The brain filters information to avoid becoming overwhelmed. This means a driver who is tired, inattentive, or distracted may only see vehicles because their brain expects to see them. They may miss motorcycles in plain sight simply because they are not looking for them.
Another cause of motorcycle accidents is a failure to yield the right of way. Drivers often fail to yield to motorcycles because they misjudge their speed or distance. Again, carelessness can contribute to this misjudgment.
Drivers also fail to yield to motorcyclists because they may expect pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists to yield to them, even if the vulnerable road user has the right of way.
Safety Tips for Riding Your Motorcycle on Long Island
Based on these common causes of crashes, riders can better protect themselves with the following safety tips:
Get Proper Training
Formal motorcycle training can help new and experienced riders improve their braking, turning, hazard recognition, and collision-avoidance skills. Even after obtaining a motorcycle license, riders can benefit from continuing education and regular practice.
Regularly refreshing your skills can help you respond more effectively to sudden traffic changes, poor road conditions, and other hazards commonly encountered on Long Island roads.
Stay Visible to Other Drivers
Since many crashes happen when drivers overlook motorcycles, riders should try to stay visible on the road. For example, avoid riding in the blind spots of automobiles and trucks. Likewise, make sure to pass other vehicles on the left where you will be more visible.
Approach Intersections Cautiously
A common motorcycle crash scenario occurs when automobile drivers turn left across a motorcyclist’s path. They do this because they fail to spot the approaching motorcycle, misjudge the rider’s distance, or believe they can beat the rider through the intersection.
Riders should always exercise caution at intersections, even when they have the right of way. Motorcyclists might avoid crashes by preparing to brake or swerve if a driver violates the right-of-way rules.
Wear a DOT-Compliant Helmet
New York law requires all riders to wear helmets, but not all helmets provide adequate protection. Novelty helmets do not meet the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) regulations for crashworthiness. Make sure to look for a helmet with a label stating that it meets the DOT’s safety regulations.
Contact Our Experienced Long Island Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Initial Consultation
A motorcycle crash can leave you with lifelong injuries and devastate your finances. It’s vital to have the right team on your side to pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact Carrion Accident & Injury Attorneys, PLLC to find out how our experienced Long Island motorcycle accident attorneys can help you today.
